The exterior angle of a triangle is the one that is found between the original side and the extension of the side. The exterior angle is equal to the sum of the two interior angles of the triangle that are not adjacent to it.
Until today we have dealt with internal angles, perhaps also with adjacent angles, but we have not talked about external angles. Don't worry, the topic of the exterior angle of a triangle is very easy to understand and its property can be very useful for solving exercises more quickly. Shall we start?
What is the exterior angle of a triangle?
The exterior angle of a triangle is the one that is found between the original side and the extension of the side.
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Question 1
Angle A equals 56°. Angle B equals 89°. Angle C equals 17°.
Imagine someone draws a triangle and falls asleep as they are finishing it. Without realizing it, they continue drawing one side a little more... and Bam! An exterior angle is created. The exterior angle is outside of the triangle and is found between the original side and the side they continued drawing while asleep (the continuation of the side).
Let's look at an example
Observe: An exterior angle is the one that is found between an original side of the triangle and the extension of the side and not between two extensions.
Note: Whenever the angle is outside the triangle and is found between an original side of the triangle and the extension of another side of the triangle, it will be considered an exterior angle of the triangle.
Do you know what the answer is?
Question 1
The triangle ABC is shown below.
To which side(s) are the median and the altitude drawn?
Great! Now that we have understood what an exterior angle is and that we can recognize it from a distance, we can move on to the property of the exterior angle of a triangle. Property of the exterior angle of a triangle The exterior angle is equal to the sum of the two interior angles of the triangle that are not adjacent to it.
Given that: ∢A=80 ∢B=20
How much does the exterior angle measure? Solution: Let's denote the exterior angle withα:
According to the property of the exterior angle of the triangle, the exterior angle α must be equal to the sum of the two interior angles of the triangle that are not adjacent to it. That is, ∢A+∢B
We already have these angles. Therefore, all we have to do is add them up and find out the exterior angle: α=80+20 α=100
Look, we could have found the value of the exterior angle in another way! We know that the sum of the interior angles of a triangle is 180. Therefore, ∢ACB=180−20−80
∢ACB=80
∢ABC is the angle adjacent to α, the exterior angle of the triangle that we need to find out. We also know that the sum of the adjacent angles is 180. Therefore we can determine that: ∢80+α=80 α=100
Look, In certain cases you will not be explicitly asked for the value of the exterior angle. They might ask you, for example, about some interior angle of the triangle that you could figure out through the exterior angle.
Let's look at an example
Given the following triangle:
Data: ∢A=90 α=110
Find the value of ∢B
Solution:
We can solve the problem in two ways:
The first is based on the Exterior Angle Theorem of a triangle and understand that α is an exterior angle of the triangle and is equal to the sum of the two interior angles that are not adjacent to it. That is, ∢A+∢B
Then, the equation would be: 110=90+∢B ∢B=20
The second way to solve the problem is to remember that the sum of the adjacent angles equals 180, then ∢ACB is equal to 70.
Notice that we have arrived at the same result, but solving through the property of the exterior angle of a triangle has been faster to reach it.
Useful Information: The sum of the three exterior angles of a triangle equals 360 degrees.
In conclusion, it is important and really worth knowing the property of the exterior angle of a triangle to solve problems easily and quickly, although in several cases you will be able to manage without this magnificent theorem.
Examples and exercises with solutions of an exterior angle of a triangle
Exercise #1
Angle A is equal to 30°. Angle B is equal to 60°. Angle C is equal to 90°.
Can these angles form a triangle?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
We add the three angles to see if they equal 180 degrees:
30+60+90=180 The sum of the angles equals 180, so they can form a triangle.
Answer
Yes
Exercise #2
Angle A equals 56°. Angle B equals 89°. Angle C equals 17°.
Can these angles make a triangle?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
We add the three angles to see if they are equal to 180 degrees:
56+89+17=162
The sum of the given angles is not equal to 180, so they cannot form a triangle.
Answer
No.
Exercise #3
Angle A equals 90°. Angle B equals 115°. Angle C equals 35°.
Can these angles form a triangle?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
We add the three angles to see if they are equal to 180 degrees:
90+115+35=240 The sum of the given angles is not equal to 180, so they cannot form a triangle.
Answer
No.
Exercise #4
ABC is an isosceles triangle.
AD is the median.
What is the size of angle ∢ADC?
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
In an isosceles triangle, the median to the base is also the height to the base.
That is, side AD forms a 90° angle with side BC.
That is, two right triangles are created.
Therefore, angle ADC is equal to 90 degrees.
Answer
90
Exercise #5
Given the following triangle:
Write down the height of the triangle ABC.
Video Solution
Step-by-Step Solution
An altitude in a triangle is the segment that connects the vertex and the opposite side, in such a way that the segment forms a 90-degree angle with the side.
If we look at the image it is clear that the above theorem is true for the line AE. AE not only connects the A vertex with the opposite side. It also crosses BC forming a 90-degree angle. Undoubtedly making AE the altitude.